Oleksandr Dolzhenkov: The norms of the law on the ban on clear-cutting in the Carpathians may in fact lead to even greater clear-cutting in this region

The President of Ukraine signed the law “On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine regarding the prohibition of clear-cutting on the mountain slopes in the fir-beech forests of the Carpathian region.” This draft law was presented under the slogan “We will save the Carpathians from clear-cutting”! However, edits from representatives of the parliamentary majority can lead to the fact that deforestation will already be where it was previously prohibited. The former MP, Oleksandr Dolzhenkov, wrote on his Facebook page.

He noted that according to this law, deforestation could already be carried out in high-mountain forests, avalanche-hazardous, mudflow-hazardous basins and shore-protecting forest areas of the Carpathian region of Ukraine.

“It was written cunningly: there is indeed a ban on clear-cutting, but in the current edition a ban was established on any deforestation in the above regions. It turns out that selective cutting is possible, and everyone knows how they are conducted... Once again, we are talking about high-mountain forests, avalanche-hazardous, mudflow-hazardous basins and coastal forest protection areas of the Carpathian region of Ukraine! But clear-cutting is also possible in these regions of plantations “damaged by diseases and pests,” Oleksandr Dolzhenkov said.

In addition, revision No. 21 will now allow deforestation using caterpillar equipment, which until now was prohibited by article 9 of the Law of Ukraine “On a moratorium on clear-cutting on mountain slopes in fir-beech forests of the Carpathian region”. The same revision suggested expanding the network of paved roads, increasing the standard from 10 km per 1000 ha to 30 km per 1000 ha.

“It would seem a good goal, but this, unfortunately, can lead to even greater deforestation when substantiating the construction of roads of dubious quality with a“ hard surface ”. This example is very eloquent evidence that not the “Servants of the People” have come to power, but some kind of temporary workers who create favorable conditions for the predatory exploitation of natural resources,” Oleksandr Dolzhenkov emphasized.